The log information from the Apache web server must be protected from unauthorized modification or deletion.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-214236	AS24-U1-000190	SV-214236r881419_rule		Medium

Description
Log data is essential in the investigation of events. If log data were to become compromised, competent forensic analysis and discovery of the true source of potentially malicious system activity would be difficult, if not impossible, to achieve. In addition, access to log records provides information an attacker could potentially use to their advantage since each event record might contain communication ports, protocols, services, trust relationships, user names, etc. The web server must protect the log data from unauthorized read, write, copy, etc. This can be done by the web server if the web server is also doing the logging function. The web server may also use an external log system. In either case, the logs must be protected from access by non-privileged users. Satisfies: SRG-APP-000119-WSR-000069, SRG-APP-000120-WSR-000070

Description

Log data is essential in the investigation of events. If log data were to become compromised, competent forensic analysis and discovery of the true source of potentially malicious system activity would be difficult, if not impossible, to achieve. In addition, access to log records provides information an attacker could potentially use to their advantage since each event record might contain communication ports, protocols, services, trust relationships, user names, etc. The web server must protect the log data from unauthorized read, write, copy, etc. This can be done by the web server if the web server is also doing the logging function. The web server may also use an external log system. In either case, the logs must be protected from access by non-privileged users. Satisfies: SRG-APP-000119-WSR-000069, SRG-APP-000120-WSR-000070

STIG	Date
Apache Server 2.4 UNIX Server Security Technical Implementation Guide	2024-02-21

Details

Check Text ( C-15450r276968_chk )
Verify the log information from the web server must be protected from unauthorized modification. Review the web server documentation and deployed configuration settings to determine if the web server logging features protect log information from unauthorized modification. Review file system settings to verify the log files have secure file permissions. Run the following command: ls -l <'INSTALL PATH'>/logs If the web server log files present are owned by anyone other than an administrative service account this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-15450r276968_chk )

Verify the log information from the web server must be protected from unauthorized modification.

Review the web server documentation and deployed configuration settings to determine if the web server logging features protect log information from unauthorized modification.

Review file system settings to verify the log files have secure file permissions. Run the following command:

ls -l <'INSTALL PATH'>/logs

If the web server log files present are owned by anyone other than an administrative service account this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-15448r881418_fix)
Determine the location of the "ErrorLog" directory in the "httpd.conf" file: # apachectl -V \| egrep -i 'httpd_root\|server_config_file' -D HTTPD_ROOT="/etc/httpd" -D SERVER_CONFIG_FILE="conf/httpd.conf" Open the "httpd.conf" file. Look for the "ErrorLog" directive. Ensure the permissions and ownership of all files in the Apache log directory are correct by executing the following commands as an administrative service account: # chown <'service account'> <'ErrorLog directive PATH'>/*

Fix Text (F-15448r881418_fix)

Determine the location of the "ErrorLog" directory in the "httpd.conf" file:

# apachectl -V | egrep -i 'httpd_root|server_config_file'
-D HTTPD_ROOT="/etc/httpd"
-D SERVER_CONFIG_FILE="conf/httpd.conf"

Open the "httpd.conf" file.

Look for the "ErrorLog" directive.

Ensure the permissions and ownership of all files in the Apache log directory are correct by executing the following commands as an administrative service account:

# chown <'service account'> <'ErrorLog directive PATH'>/*